Post-pyrogenic differentiation of arenosols properties in the pine forests of Western Transbaikalia

The article presents an analysis of the soil properties of the Western Transbaikalia montane-steppe pine forests damaged by ground fires. The profiles of Arenosols developed on sandy sediments in the Vorovka River basin show morphologically acute fixation of the pyrogenic effects in the form of coals and coal-like dust, which determine the colour of the upper post-pyrogenic horizons. We have revealed the differentiation of physical and chemical parameters in the studied soils. The established differences in the indicators of hygroscopic moisture, bulk and solid phase densities, total soil space and water permeability, as well as organic carbon content, pH-level, exchangeable base status, oxalate-soluble iron content of the upper horizons of soils are associated with the post-pyrogenic dynamics of their properties. The studied differentiation of the soil properties is a long-term indicator of the past fires, it allows us to characterize the degree of their manifestation in soils depending on the age and intensity of the fire, thereby reflecting the post-fire functioning of the soils and their afforestation potential.